Facts and figures

We should not be astonished by the number of pertinent questions spewed out by Me. Kailash Trilochun in his first interview to the media soon after his return to Mauritius on Thursday.  

In fact, while being interviewed by our colleague Jean-Luc Emile from Radio Plus, the lawyer made a series of revelations that would undoubtedly have serious political repercussions. Most importantly, he has, in a very clever way, insinuated that it was none other than the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth who chaired the meeting during which the quantum of his legal fees was discussed. Me. Trilochun has even stated in no uncertain terms that he was not alone to pocket the entire sum of Rs 19 million paid as legal fees by ICTA (Information and Communication Technologies Authority), which according to him, was shared among other barristers and attorneys. 

A BETTER UNDERSTANDING REQUIRED 

Moreover, Me. Trilochun denied that there were any charge that the police was to level against him, arguing that the media should deepen its investigations to better understand the situation. He was referring to the allegations apparently made by one of the suspects, Mr. Sylvio Candahoo that he could have given instructions to bodily harm the chairman of ICTA Mr. Bhanoodutt Beeharee.    

In clear, there are now two police enquiries in which Me. Trolochun could be quizzed by the Central CID, the first one has to do with the assault of Mr. Bhanoodutt Beeharee and the second one is in connection with the use an affidavit and the notes of meeting of the boards of two offshore companies. 

Me. Trilochun was dragged into controversy when the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth revealed at the National Assembly, on Tuesday 9 August 2016, in reply to a parliamentary question from MP Mr. Reza Uteem, that legal fees amounting to Rs 19, 198, 436.00 and Rs 461,150 were paid respectively to Me. Trilochun and attorney-at–law Mr. Roshan Rajroop by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) in the case of Emtel versus ICTA, Mauritius Telecom, Cellplus and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

Ever since these “cases” have been unearthed, there have been several moves from several very prominent members of the government to either dissociate themselves from Me Trilochun or to take severe actions against him. The Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. Nando Bodha, who is the cousin and brother-in-law of Me. Trilochun,  was one of the first members of the government to react on this sensitive issue both at the National Assembly and when talking to the media. 

LET DOWN BY THOSE AT THE HELM OF POWER 

Later, while he was the Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Showkutally Soodhun appropriated the decision to sack Me. Kailash Trilochun as chairperson of the Financial Services Commission (FSC). A few days afterwards, the Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth told the media that he had given instructions so that barrister Kailash Trilochun be sacked from the various posts that he was occupying.

If we go by the tone of Me Trilochun, we can easily grasp his bitterness. This is obvious, given that he has been let down by those at the helm of power.  

What he has publicly stated so far, whether by means of his press communiqué or his interview on Radio Plus should in no way be considered as an intemperate babbling. On the contrary, he should be taken very seriously as he could further embarrass the government.   

What happened at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam  International Airport on Thursday sufficed to give us an indication of what would happen next. First, Me. Trilochun walked through the arrival gate as a free man. He was not arrested in a dramatic way by the police as many would have imagined. True, it is that there was a team of the CCID, led by ACP Devanand Reekoye which was at the airport. Apparently they had a discreet conversation with Me. Trilochun. 

Earlier, before the arrival of Me Trilochun, even Me. Anoup Goodarry from the chambers of Me Rama Valayden, the leading counsel in the case of assault of the chairman of ICTA, was not sure whether Me Trilochun would be arrested upon his arrival or he would walk away freely.

It would appear that it is only next week that Me Trilochun will give a statement to the CCID. He even joked with those present, adding that “there is a beautiful sunshine and that he was glad to return to his country”. 

BACK TO THE CONSTITUENCIES 

Otherwise on the purely political front, both the ruling parties and opposition parties are getting back to the various constituencies. While the MSM will try to market the Budget 2016/2017 presented by its leader and current Minister of Finance Mr Pravind Jugnauth, the MMM is banking on the various “scandals” and other issues, like the Trilochun’s “cases”, the sale of the former Apollo Bramwell Hospital and so on. The MMM has already started a poster campaign to denounce the government and is intensifying its meetings in various parts of the country in view of its annual congress due to be held this month.

The Mauritius Labour Party, led by former Prime Minister Dr. Navin Ramgoolam is also holding a series of meetings with its supporters in a bid to reinforce the party’s presence in the country. After the severe defeat of the Labour Party (along with the MMM) at the general elections held in 2014 and the myriad arrests of its leader, the Mauritius Labour Party is trying, painfully though, to readapt to the new political environment. So far, Dr. Ramgoolam is favouring a three-cornered fight at the next general elections.

In the meantime, the debate on who will replace Sir Anerood Jugnauth as Prime Minister has rekindled political passions. Barrister Me. Penny Hack is the one who triggered the debate, arguing that it is the Deputy Prime Minister (in this case Mr. Xavier-Luc Duval, leader of the PMSD), who should step in as Prime Minister. 

But the argument put forward by the Leader of the Opposition Mr. Paul Bérenger makes more sense. He stated at his weekly press conference on Saturday that this is not the case and that it is the person who holds a majority who may be called upon by the President of the Republic to form the government. Mr. Bérenger added another argument; that the President of the Republic is not “forced” to appoint that person and that he/she could recommend the dissolution of the National Assembly.

The grapevine has it that a cabinet reshuffle is in the making. Loud-mouthed Roshi Bhadain could be shown the door while MP Joe Lesjongard could be roped in as Minister, in a bid to counteract the growing appetite of the PMSD. MSM MP Sudhir Seesunkur could be sworn in as Minister of Environment.